Red House

Beautiful quinces in the Red House orchard. Did you know that quinces pre-date apples and are associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. They are inedible when eaten raw but can be made into a delicious paste (membrillo) to be enjoyed with a cheese board.

The apple trees in our orchard are laden with fruit at the moment. The small apple trees are grafted from what we believe was on of the original trees in Morris's orchard. #nationaltrust #redhousebexleyheath #williammorris #artsandcraftsmovement #janemorris #apple #orchard

Jane and William Morris furnished Red House with pieces designed for their new home by Philip Webb and Ford Madox Brown. They also favoured these rustic yet elegant chairs with rush seats which originated in the Sussex countryside.

Jane Morris (1839-1914) photographed in an unknown garden in July 1865, the same year that she and William left Red House. Jane was a talented artist in her own right, producing exquisite embroideries, and sat as a model for artists, most famously Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Morris & Co Ltd.'s ‘Daisy’ wallpaper was designed while William Morris was a resident of Red House. This was the first Morris & Co. wallpaper pattern put into production, block-printed in distemper colours by Jeffery & Co.

Jane and William Morris moved into their newly built home, Red House, on this week in 1860. Married for just over a year, they are pictured wearing crowns in 'The Tale of Sir Degrevaunt: The Wedding Feast' painted on the wall of the drawing room by their friend Edward Burne-Jones

We couldn't open Red House without the contribution of our fantastic volunteers. They give up their time to provide a warm welcome, to make the garden beautiful, and to share their knowledge with visitors. Thank you to the Red House volunteers for their time and dedication.